Program

Thursday, February 22

9:00 AM–1:00 PM: Optional Tour. Space is limited and sign-up is required.

9:00 AM: Bus pick up at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown | 340 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

9:20 AM: Arrive at Miami Beach Regional Library

The Miami Beach Regional Library, located one block from the Atlantic Ocean in the heart of South Beach, is a spacious two-story building that features several meeting rooms, an outdoor courtyard, a gallery and a café area. Its large lobby windows are complemented by colorful artwork. The second floor children’s area features a space for storytelling and early literacy events as well as YOUmake Miami—a makerspace for creative collaboration from crafts to classes to interactive technology for people of all ages.

10:00 AM: Depart Miami Beach Regional Library

10:20 AM: Arrive and Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

A planetarium, aquarium and science museum–explore it all at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Downtown Miami’s Museum Park. Discover Miami’s newest home for the ever-curious and explore the world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in an experiential setting with interactive exhibitions and dynamic shows. You’ll learn about the core science behind living systems, the solar system and known universe, the physics of flight, light, and lasers, the biology of the human body and mind, and much more.

11:00 AM: Depart Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

11:15 AM: Arrive at HistoryMiami Museum

HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is the premier cultural institution committed to collecting, preserving, and celebrating Miami’s history as the unique crossroads of the Americas. Through exhibitions, artistic endeavors, city tours, education, research, collections, and publications, HistoryMiami Museum works to help everyone understand the importance of the past in shaping Miami’s future. HistoryMiami Museum connects people by telling the stories of Miami’s communities, individuals, places, and events.

12:00 PM: Depart HistoryMiami Museum

Boxed lunch will be provided to tour participants at the end of the tour.

Sign up for the tour here.

Ray Baker, Director, Miami-Dade Public Library System
Kiera Parrott, Reviews Director, Library Journal & School Library Journal
Meredith Schwartz, Executive Editor, Library Journal

Renée Wilson-Simmons, DrPH, Director, National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, presents an overview on the state of America’s children—where the gaps are, what the major challenges are for the most vulnerable populations, and highlight what work needs to be done to close those gaps.

In this inspiring talk on the important role libraries will play in the digital future, youll hear how to create seamless public library + K-12 school partnerships, how to partner with local cultural organizations to curate and make available front list ebooks to everyone in the community with no holds or wait lists, and how small public libraries can use community engagement software to power transformative after-school and digital Maker space activity at the library.

Sponsored by BiblioBoard.

Speaker:
Mitchell Davis, Founder & CEO, BiblioBoard

While public library services, spaces, and programming are often separated by age group (children, teens, adults, seniors), many libraries are finding success by engaging their community members through a whole family approach, oftentimes making first contact via the youngest family members. This panel will take a look at a variety of public library partnerships and initiatives such as those aimed at immigrants, the incarcerated, and more.

Panelists:
Nick Higgins, Director of Outreach Services, Brooklyn Public Library (NY)
Sophie Maier, Immigrant Services Librarian, Iroquois Branch, Louisville Free Public Library (KY)
Jill Youngs, Manager of Cicero Branch, Northern Onondaga County Public Library (NY)

Moderator:
Meredith Schwartz, Executive Editor, Library Journal

As public libraries adapt the services they provide to meet the changing needs of their communities, they find themselves needing to think more creatively about how to address those needs without additional budgets and staffing resources. Find out how libraries are utilizing bibliotheca solutions to offer access to their community in different ways.

Sponsored by bibliotheca.

Speaker:
Meghan Davis, Vice Presidents of Global Marketing, bibliotheca

In-depth discussions of trends, ideas, and best practices incorporating topics and voices from the previous panel.

Reaching Children of the Incarcerated, led by Nick Higgins, Director of Outreach Services, Brooklyn Public Library (NY)

Reaching Children of Immigrants, Refugees, and Newcomers, led by Sophie Maier, Immigrant Services Librarian, Iroquois Branch, Louisville Free Public Library (KY)

Teaching Food Literacy, led by Jill Youngs, Manager of Cicero Branch, Northern Onondaga County Public Library (NY)

Visual Literacy Art Tour of the Main Library, led by Oscar Fuentes, Library Exhibitions and Programming Specialist, Miami-Dade Public Library System

YOUmedia, led by Colin Creasy, Miami-Dade Public Library System

Hosted by Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library

Friday, February 23

8:00–8:50 AM: Breakfast and Welcome (Miami-Dade Public Library System–Main Branch)

Research has shown that the early childhood years are critical to literacy development and that parental involvement has a positive impact on children’s reading achievement. But how can libraries best support parents in their role as their child’s first and most important teacher? Digital platforms are changing both the way that children acquire literacy skills and parents’ capacity to help in this development.

Sponsored by Scholastic.

Speaker:
Herbie Thorpe, Director of Digital Initiatives, Scholastic

In today’s world, sustainability includes environmental, financial, and social equity issues. To truly make progress in the communities we serve, we need to actively incorporate educating and evolving youth, and youth services staff, as key resources to creating sustainable communities.

Presented by:
Lisa G. Kropp, Director, Lindenhurst Memorial Library (NY)
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator for Library Sustainability, Mid-Hudson Library System (NY)

More than five million apps will be available by 2020. How can librarians navigate this “Wild West” of content for children’s educational apps? Learn what resources and guidelines exist for selecting quality apps. See how your library can help close the “app gap,” even in areas with low Internet connectivity.

Sponsored by Playaway.

Speaker:
Erin Cosyn, Head of Playaway Content Acquisitions, Playaway

Though issues such as racism, gender discrimination, bullying, and substance abuse are not new, recent headlines and political events have brought them to the forefront, and studies have shown that failing to address such things early does not protect children. How libraries engage young people around these “tough topics” in an age appropriate way can be complicated—and crucial.

Panelists:
Debra Rhodes Gibson, Library System Director, St. Johns County Public Library System (FL)
Erin Hoopes, Library Supervisor, Free Library of Philadelphia
Aaron Mason, Director of Outreach & Programming Services, Cleveland Public Library
Angel Tucker, Youth Services Manager, Johnson County Public Library (KS)

Moderator:
Kiera Parrott, Reviews Director, Library Journal & School Library Journal

There are many reasons that children and young adults may not develop a relationship with reading. Large print is proven to be beneficial for struggling readers, those with dyslexia or processing challenges, and ELL and ESL students. Join us to hear how Thorndike Press is transforming the way young adults read.

Sponsored by Thorndike Press.

Speaker:
Sabine McAlpine, Strategic Account Manager, Thorndike Press

In-depth discussions of trends, ideas, and best practices incorporating topics and voices from the previous two panels.

Empowering Youth to Take on Sustainability Work, led by Lisa G. Kropp, Director, Lindenhurst Memorial Library (NY) and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator for Library Sustainability, Mid-Hudson Library System (NY)

Combating Bullying, led by Debra Rhodes Gibson, Library System Director, St. Johns County Public Library System (FL)

Engaging Teens with Social Justice, led by Erin Hoopes, Library Supervisor, Free Library of Philadelphia

Discussing the Opioid Crisis with Kids & Teens, led by Aaron Mason, Director of Outreach & Programming Services, Cleveland Public Library

Combating Racism through Local History Programming, led by Angel Tucker, Youth Services Manager, Johnson County Public Library (KS)

“Lifelong Learning” has long been a core mission of the public library. From preparing the very youngest for school to helping teens chart their path post-high school to equipping teens and 20-somethings with basic “adulting” skills to helping patrons of all ages learn to code, public libraries are readying their users for whatever life throws at them.

Panelists:
Georgia Coleman, Chief Customer Officer, Richland Library (SC)
Brian Kenney, Director, White Plains Public Library (NY)
Robin Newell, Executive Director, Emporia Public Library (KS)
Bridget Quinn-Carey, CEO, Hartford Public Library (CT)

Moderator:
Sue Cvejanovich, Assistant Director, Miami-Dade Public Library System

Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS), Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and industry leaders Follett and Baker & Taylor come together to bring “Community Share” to Miami. The program makes MDPLS’s Axis 360 digital collection accessible to school children from virtually anywhere. The presenters will share how the program was brought to life.

Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.

Speaker:
Deirdre Lewis-Gustafson, Collection Development Librarian, Miami-Dade Public Library System
Dwight G. Bailey, Library Media Services, Miami-Dade Public Schools

In-depth discussions of trends, ideas, best practices incorporating topics and voices from the previous panel.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten, led by Georgia Coleman, Chief Customer Officer, Richland Library (SC)

Getting Ready for College, led by Brian Kenney, Director, White Plains Public Library (NY)

“Adulting,” led by Robin Newell, Executive Director, Emporia Public Library (KS)

Getting Ready to Code, led by Bridget Quinn-Carey, CEO, Hartford Public Library (CT)

Youth Tech Programming Outside the Library, led by Marlon Moore, Miami-Dade Public Library System

Sherri Winston, The Sweetest Sound (Little, Brown), will discuss her journey as an author and the need for more and better representation of African American youth in literature. Book signing to follow closing remarks.